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After years in the making, YouTuber and film critic Chris Stuckmann ’s feature directorial debut, Shelby Oaks , has finally arrived in theaters. At the heart of the story is Sarah Durn as Riley Brennan, the head of a once-popular paranormal investigative team that mysteriously vanishes. Told through a chilling mix of psychological suspense and found-footage terror, the film traces Riley’s disappearance and her older sister Mia’s obsessive search for answers more than a decade later. I spoke with Sarah about stepping into her first major lead role, the years-long journey from Kickstarter to cinemas, and how she brought Riley Brennan’s haunting presence to life. Congrats on your first major lead role! Such an exciting milestone for you. Sarah Durn: Yeah, it’s all been so wonderful and wild. How did it all come together? Sarah Durn: Well, I was cast back in 2020, a long time ago. When I was cast, it was before even the full movie was confirmed — it was a proof of concept. The producers and Chris Stuckmann, the director and writer, wanted to keep things close to the chest. We ended up shooting a lot of the found footage elements when I was first cast and then we used that as the Kickstarter, which blew up and became the most-funded horror film Kickstarter ever, which is just insane. Ever since, this movie has been the little film that could, and I’m just so excited for people to finally see it in theaters. Yes, so how does it feel to finally share something that’s been in development and conversation for so long? Sarah Durn: It feels bittersweet, honestly. It feels wonderful. I’m excited for people to finally see it. I hope that people are excited by it and get something from it. And I hope they think I’m okay in it. But I’m just excited for it to finally be out there. It’s sad, too, because I’ve been with the project since 2020 — it’s literally been half a decade, which is a really, really long time. I can’t even fathom that it’s over, that we aren’t gonna go back for reshoots in a couple months, because I’ve gone back and shot stuff for this movie about every year since 2020. It’s sad to think that it’s coming to an end too. This is also Chris Stuckmann’s directorial debut. What was it like being directed by him, and how did his vision shape your performance? Sarah Durn: Oh, Chris is wonderful. He comes from a background as a YouTube movie critic, which I didn’t know when I first joined the project. But he is the same person on YouTube as he is on set. He’s even-keeled, and it’s really hard but he does a really good job of just being steady and keeping things level. That’s something you really need on a set, because it’s a 12-hour day, there’s stuff going wrong right and left, and you need a director who’s gonna be calm and make you feel like everything’s okay, even if it’s not. Chris does that amazingly well. He’s kind, and fun, and generous. When we first met, we were shooting a lot of the found-footage elements of this movie, and he really gave me so much freedom to play. A lot of those moments are improvised — and a lot are scripted — but there’s a lot I just played and found that ended up in the movie, which is really weird and wonderful to see. At one point, Chris sent me home with a 2008-era little camcorder and said, “Why don’t you just take it home for a week and film some stuff?” And I was like, “Okay?” So I just did random stuff with this camcorder — me in my bedroom — which you can actually see little bits of in the film. It’s not obvious to most people, but my close friends are like, “That’s your bed!” It’s bizarre, and wild, and wonderful to see that end up in the movie. Sarah Durn in Shelby Oaks . © Neon It seems it became such a personal project for you. Much of your work is within that found-footage segment. What was it like performing in that style, and how did you approach becoming such a haunting presence in the story? Sarah Durn: Oh, well, thank you for that! I’m glad I feel haunting! (Laughs) The found-footage elements are really fun. It’s different, because you’re aware of the camera. But as an actor, you’re constantly putting yourself on tape for auditions, so you already have an awareness of the camera. Even if you try to ignore it, you’re kind of turning slightly toward it — you always have that awareness. In found footage, though, the camera is almost a character. There’s an awareness that adds authenticity. You can’t bullshit when you’re just talking to a camera, you have to feel it. It’s almost a pared-down performance, because you’re talking to your YouTube audience as this character who’s posting about why they haven’t uploaded in a while. I even improvised an FAQ video where Riley, in character, answers fans’ questions — it was just me making stuff up. Those found-footage moments feel very authentic and raw, which is great because that’s what the medium lends itself to. Then when you move into the more narrative half of the film, it feels more natural — what you’re used to as an actor. But I found it really fun to work within that found-footage realm because it’s just a little different, and that’s always fun. The film also gets pretty bloody at times. What was it like being in the middle of all that on set, and how much of it was practical? Sarah Durn: Chris really wanted as much of the blood and effects to be practical as possible. We did a lot of it on set. We had a big guy in a demon costume walking around, which was very fun. I love being on set so much that I just hang out past my call time. I’ll be dismissed but I don’t want to go! I remember hanging out with the demon man, Derek Mears, who’s done so many wonderful things. He’s amazing, generous and not at all scary, even though the creatures he plays usually are. Seeing him get zipped up into this demon costume, with his head and arms and gloves — it’s just fun to peel back the curtain on movie magic. A lot of the effects were done right there: blood being sprayed on people, or on me, and even real dogs... That dog scene! I had to look away. Sarah Durn: I know! I love dogs, and yet, dogs are scary in movies. Horror acting also demands extreme emotional states. How do you protect your energy and mental space between takes when things get especially intense? Sarah Durn: That’s a really astute question. It’s definitely a balancing act. Riley really goes through it in this movie — she has a hard time. It became really important for me to find ways to compartmentalize, to be Riley but still be Sarah and enjoy my time on set. That’s why I do this, I’m not doing it to have a miserable experience. I worked with my acting coach because I wanted to be able to leave that stuff at work and not bring it home. I’m not a method actor; I don’t stay in character the whole time. For me, part of the craft is being able to go in and out. To do that, you have to trust yourself — to believe you can go there and come back. Sometimes the coming out is hard; it lingers. I try to keep happy memories close: me with my dog (who is not scary!), with my cats, or on the couch with my boyfriend watching goofy movies. Giving my brain those happy places helps pull me out of the darker moments in the film. Okay, this one’s just for me! I’m personally curious. How did you feel when you first watched the movie? Were you scared? Sarah Durn: It’s such a bizarre, wild experience watching yourself in a film. Honestly, my first thought is always, “How does it look? Which take did they use? Do I think I did well?” because I can be very self-critical. I’m a perfectionist. But acting isn’t about perfection and humans aren’t perfect. When I watch Shelby Oaks , I start out looking for that, but about halfway through, I just get drawn into the story. The movie really starts churning, becoming this thriller and mystery about what happened to Riley. I know what happened — I play her — but I still get pulled in. Camille Sullivan, who plays my older sister Mia, is incredible: so powerful and driven. You can tell she’d go to the ends of the earth for her sister. The film reads more as a mystery-thriller to me, with supernatural elements. And yes, the jump scares still get me sometimes, even after multiple watches. Speaking of doing anything for your sister — that scene where she goes to the abandoned prison, I was like, “Why would you do that?!” And then I thought, “Who would I do that for?” and was like, “Okay… my boyfriend, I guess.” Sarah Durn: “I guess!” (Laughs) I mean, he has to be a good boyfriend. Like, if he goes missing and we were in a fight or something, maybe I’d just leave him in the prison. Then you’d just feel guilty! Okay... Beyond Shelby Oaks , what’s next for you? Any upcoming projects you’re excited to share or new directions you’d like to explore? Sarah Durn: I’m mostly just excited to fully embrace this crazy moment right now — to have Shelby Oaks coming out and, hopefully, for people to enjoy it. That’s my main priority. I do have some fun things in the works that I can’t talk about yet, but I’m really excited to see how people react once the movie’s out there. Shelby Oaks is now playing in theaters. This interview has been edited for clarity.

Disclaimer: This review contains minor spoilers for Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel . Hazbin Hotel  season 2 © Amazon Prime Video In the beginning, there was Patreon. That is, the popular crowdfunding website, circa 2014, where Hazbin Hotel  creator Vivienne Medrano (‘VivziePop’) first pedaled her wares - that is, a proof-of-concept pilot episode that was animated entirely by freelance artists for what would eventually become “the highest global viewership for a new animated title” on Amazon Prime circa early 2024. Likewise, following Hazbin ’s YouTube pilot (currently boasting 118 million views) and the series premiere via Amazon Prime Video, the spin-off series Helluva Boss  joined its sister show on Amazon roughly a year later. Both shows have been renewed for at least four seasons each , with the highly anticipated Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel  premiering on Prime Video on October 29th.  The Vees (Velvette, Vox, Valentino), front and center in Hazbin Hotel season 2 © Amazon Prime Video The bulk of both Hazbin Hotel  and Helluva Boss  take place in Hell, under the premise that all human Sinners are trapped in Hell’s Pride ring, ruled over by the fallen Archangel Lucifer (Jeremy Jordan) after collaborating with the Biblical Lilith, following her escape from the Garden of Eden. In contrast, the Winners who make it to Heaven also cannot leave, but neither are they subjected to an annual angelic Extermination designed to prune their numbers - as one might expect, it seems much easier to make it to Hell than Heaven in the VivziePop Hellaverse. The Hazbin Hotel pilot and series feature Charlie Morningstar (Erika Henningsen), Lucifer and Lilith’s Hell-borne daughter, and her attempts to help Sinners redeem themselves enough to become Winners via her Hazbin [‘has-been,’ though it was initially called the ‘Happy Hotel’] Hotel.  In Season 1, Charlie, alongside a motley assortment of damned-but-loveable characters, often pulls double duty, advertising the hotel to Sinners (who are often less than receptive, particularly given that there is no official decree from Heaven that the proposed redemption process actually works) while attempting to legitimize it around Heaven’s presumably indestructible Exorcist angels’ brutal Exterminations, which double in frequency after one of said Exorcist angels is mysteriously killed during the previous Extermination. The knowledge of this incident naturally immediately raises Hell’s stakes not only regarding its likelihood in preserving more Sinners’ afterlives, but also as viable contenders to potentially take over Heaven. Season 1 concludes with both the deaths of Adam (Alex Brightman), Lilith’s Eden counterpart and leader of Heaven’s Exorcist Army, as well as that of Sir Pentious (also Alex Brightman), a serpentine Sinner whose surprise redemption through the hotel involves him becoming friends with many of his former turf war rivals, though it ultimately culminates in him sacrificing himself while trying to take out Adam with one of his inventions. “That’s the Hazbin guarantee!” Sir Pentious in Heaven in Hazbin Hotel season 2 © Amazon Prime Video There are many mysteries to reveal about and within the Hellaverse. Perhaps the biggest unknown is Lilith herself, who notably has been absent from Hell for seven years by the pilot episode - some fans speculate that this is also when the Exterminations began. Similar speculation about Lilith’s whereabouts, agenda, and even parenting skills abound in both canon and fanon, e.g.: Is the Exorcist Army simply the latest ploy by Adam to stick it to his first wife and/or were Lilith and Lucifer, et al a legitimate threat to Heaven’s relative peace? Her absence, punctuated in both the pilot and series by Charlie’s increasingly strained voice mail messages to her mom, speaks volumes, though Lilith does not speak at all (yet). Viewers likewise can only suspect whether Lilith had relationships with Hell’s other Overlords, including Alastor (Amir Talai), a deer-coded Sinner whose above-average otherworldly abilities somehow (another ongoing mystery) have enabled him to defeat several big names in Hell - whether this involves destroying their souls as entertainment for his popular radio program there and/or taking ownership of them via binding handshake deals seems to be Alastor’s jurisdiction - and who notably shows up at the hotel in the pilot episode following one of Charlie’s phone calls to Lilith. In addition, Lilith’s absence seems to have caused strife between Charlie and Lucifer, the latter who grumbles often about Sinners and his lot following being cast out of Heaven and sealed below; in Season 2, Lucifer murmurs wistfully when the topic of Lilith gets broached that he misses her “every second of every day.” During Steven Universe ’s own animated heyday, the backstory for the title character’s own mom, Rose Quartz aka Pink Diamond is notably told “ in reverse ,” allowing her “complex, contradictory” actions and considerable “shame and self-hatred” to be meted out respectfully and thoroughly across the series. Thus, it is likely that Lilith’s full story and motivation will be revealed in a similar strategically sporadic fashion. Following Hell’s Season 1 victory regarding convincing Heaven to cancel future Exterminations, Charlie and Lucifer have bonded considerably over shared goals of a more harmonious afterlife for all, though the increased interest in the hotel and continued strife between Heaven and Hell in the wake of Sir Pentious’ redemption challenges and isolates many of the main characters. In particular, Charlie begins Season 2 still processing the emotional fallout of recent events while her fallen angel girlfriend, Vaggie (Stephanie Beatriz) - currently kicking around the perfect replacement name to the one given to her by Adam - takes up the mantle of keeping the hotel running. While Alastor is still along for the ride, his grumpiness during the Season 1 finale regarding whomever it is that still owns his soul, coupled with annoyance at the mundane reality of running the hotel, and even everyone else’s emotional frailty carrying over into Season 2 all seem to encourage his scarcity at Hazbin, something which becomes even more apparent when the Vees, Hell’s infamous trio of multimedia moguls, begin sniffing around the hotel. “‘Cause redemption is possible, I really really hope!” Meanwhile in Heaven, Sir Pentious receives a rather rude welcome as those in charge debate how he got there. Eventually, a stressed Seraphim is encouraged to calm down by the ethereal Speaker of God (Liz Callaway), and Pentious is encouraged to talk about his life and afterlife. Complicating things on Heaven’s end is Lute (Jessica Vosk), Adam’s lieutenant - thus far, there has been no mention of Eve, leading some fans to presume there is a potential connection between her and Lute - who finds herself now under the command of Adam’s eldest son, Abel (Patrick Stump), a pacifist who gets nosebleeds when stressed. Sir Pentious is likewise encouraged to allow Emily (Shoba Narayan), Seraphim’s assistant angel, to help him assimilate into his new home, though he misses his newfound friends in Hell terribly, including love interest Cherri Bomb (Krystal LaPorte), who likewise has complicated and intense feelings about Pentious previously sacrificing himself for her. Nonetheless, Pentious becomes a friendly ear for many new Heaven acquaintances, and serves as a parallel to Baxter, an anglerfish Sinner and fellow inventor whose stay at the hotel is punctuated by his research into whether redemption is possible.  This review would be remiss not to check in with fan favorite characters Angel Dust and Husker (Blake Roman and Keith David, respectively), whose personal and professional inner demons make waves throughout Season 2. Fans who are invested in their relationship will likely appreciate the emotional core of their respective and occasionally dovetailing arcs while simultaneously griping about their limited screentime , which is admittedly quite compartmentalized around everything else going on. On the other hand, fans of the Vees and especially Vox (Christian Borle) will almost certainly be enraptured by their frequent limelight-stealing. Case in point, in the already released Season 2 premiere episode song, “ Hazbin Guarantee (Trust Us) ,” Charlie and the Hazbin Hotel gang trade verses with Vox, Valentino (Joel Perez), and Velvette (Lilli Cooper), which Vivienne Medrano credits to “the boys” and calls “genius,” noting that “It’s one of my favorite songs they’ve done,” in part due to its ambitious scope. As both Hazbin Hotel  and Helluva Boss  function as animated musicals, songs are a big deal in the VivziePop Hellaverse. Those who still have “Stayed Gone,” “Respectless,” and/or “Loser, Baby” earworms will almost certainly appreciate Season 2’s musical offerings, including the aforementioned “Trust Us,” as well as “ Gravity ,” an angry showstopper featuring Lute that also debuted on YouTube prior to the season premiere. Likewise, Christian Borle’s singing chops are on display a number of times during several Vox-heavy tracks.  “See how great your afterlife could be!” Charlie struggles with her public image in Hell in Hazbin Hotel season 2  © Amazon Prime Video Rest assured, there is much more to Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel  than what can be shared prior to the premiere, including a strong central plot whose somewhat anticlimactic conclusion nonetheless sets up ensuing seasons with plenty of emotional and dramatic throughlines with which to continue the overall story. Likewise, though some contrarian fans gripe that they prefer the freelance voice-over artists from the Hazbin Hotel  pilot to the Prime series’ cast, the latter is likewise effective - Sir Pentious crying out to Emily about wanting to see his friends is a notable moment. Doubtless, some fans’ discontent about what Season 2 does(n’t) do with their favorite characters will color their (loud) feedback. Still others will be unable to hold space for the content of the show around recent news that SpindleHorse, Vivienne Medrano’s animation studio, was recently greenlighted to create an animated pilot for the similarly Tumblr- popular webcomic, Homestuck . That a “ fan-maintained offline archive preserving Homestuck  in its original Flash format after the official site became difficult to use” was recently taken offline prior to the announcement of the Homestuck  pilot likely did little to smooth ruffled fan feathers. Unfortunately, there is likely little that Vivienne Medrano can do to avoid becoming a parasocial pariah to never-satisfied super fans (and critics) of her creations, particularly those without an appreciation for story structure and/or an aptitude for media literacy, to say nothing of the ship wars that ensue between fans of various romantic pairings in the show, some more canon than others. Likewise, Medrano has made it clear that “ she already has the show’s entire story in her head and knows how it will end ”; ergo, fan clamoring clearly has little to do with the creative process involved in bringing the Hellaverse to the small screen. Fortunately, the upside to SpindleHorse’s impressive connections within the entertainment industry is that Season 2 of Hazbin Hotel  is truly top-notch, with improved animation, quality songs (even Cyclopsian cleaning lady, Nifty, has one this time around!), intriguing lore and world-building, and character interactions that deepen the complexity of an oft-tread storytelling concept in exciting and original ways. Likewise, fans are being well fed in the lead up to the season premiere, including a four-episode Season 1 sing-along in movie theaters across the country, as well as the upcoming Hazbin Hotel : Live on Broadway event on October 20th that promises to feature both Season 1 and “ not yet released! ” Season 2 songs, to be filmed live at the Majestic Theater “and will also be released on Prime Video at a later time.” Likewise, the official Hazbin Hotel  website is currently flush with shiny Season 2 merchandise . Overall, Hazbin Hotel is clearly in its prime as it effectively juggles Deviantart-originated character designs and color palettes with a surprisingly fresh angle on theology, plus memorable music that helps move the story along. Season 2 contains something for almost everybody - that’s the Hazbin guarantee! Rating: ★★★★☆ Hazbin Hotel season 2  © Amazon Prime Video About Hazbin Hotel Season 2 Pr emiere Date:  October 29, 2025 Writer: Vivienne Medrano, Ariel Ladensohn, Adam Neylan, Adam Stein, Dave Capdevielle, Kendraw Cook, Raymond T. Hernandez, Maritza Medrano, Rachel Kaplan, Daniel MacDonald Director: Vivienne Medrano Production: Spindlehorse, A24, Bento Box Entertainment Distribution:   Amazon Prime Video Cast:   Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Blake Roman, Alex Newell, Patrick Stump, Liz Callaway, Kevin Del Aguila, Andrew Durand, Alex Brightman, Keith David, Kimiko Glenn, Amir Talai, Joel Perez, Jessica Vosk, Krystina Alabado, Christian Borle, Lilli Cooper, Jeremy Jordan Synopsis:  Following Charlie’s victory against Heaven’s army, the hotel is booming with new residents. Though, to her dismay, many are not there for the right reasons. As resentment against Heaven brews and sinners realise they can fight back, there are plenty of sinners looking to capitalise on the growing tensions: namely the overlord trio known as ‘The Vees’. Whilst Charlie struggles to maintain the Hotel’s goals and protect her public image, the Vees (led by Vox) make a plan to take over Heaven placing themselves at the top. Meanwhile, in Heaven, the angels must deal with the repercussions of Sir Pentious’s redemption and their own part in the previous atrocities committed against Hell."

November 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting month for TV fans, with several high-profile premieres and returns that could dominate our watchlists. Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA makes its streaming debut, while Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan returns with a brand-new series titled Pluribus that’s already generating major buzz. The biggest release of the month is Stranger Things Season 5, which marks the beginning of the show’s long-awaited final chapter. Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning team up in Peacock’s thriller All Her Fault . Over on Hulu, Ryan Murphy goes bold with All’s Fair , a legal drama starring Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts, and Niecy Nash-Betts. Netflix’s packed lineup also includes the second season of the hit comedy A Man on the Inside and the new Guillermo del Toro adaptation of Frankenstein . Apple TV revives Prehistoric Planet for another season, this time narrated by Tom Hiddleston instead of David Attenborough. Check out the full list below for everything coming this November. November 2 Robin Hood , Season 1 - MGM+ About: Robin Hood follows the tumultuous journey of a Saxon forester's son (Rob) turned legendary outlaw, as he navigates the corridors of power and leads a daring fight for justice and freedom. As Rob grapples with his inner demons and battles against the Norman elite, the series weaves a rich tapestry of historical accuracy, modern relevance, and intricate character dynamics. With its expansive scope, including vibrant depictions of medieval England, the Vatican, the Palace at Westminster and beyond, and an ensemble cast featuring compelling stories of Queen Eleanor, the spirited Maid Marian, her best friend Priscilla, and more, "Robin Hood" promises an exhilarating, action packed reimagining of the iconic narrative, offering audiences an unforgettable adventure unlike any other, and a take on this story unlike any before it. Cast: Jack Patten, Lauren McQueen, Sean Bean, Lydia Peckham, Steve Waddington, Connie Nielsen, Marcus Fraser, Angus Castle-Doughty, Erica Ford, Richard Lintern, Ian Pirie, Henry Rowley. I Love LA , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: An ambitious friend group navigates life and love in LA. Cast: Rachel Sennott, Jordan Firstman, Josh Hutcherson, Odessa A’zion, True Whitaker, Leighton Meester, Moses Ingram, Lauren Holt, Elijah Wood, Quenlin Blackwell, Josh Brener, Tim Baltz, Froy Gutierrez and Colin Woodell. November 3 Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches - NETFLIX About: Once upon a time there were Star-Belly Sneetches and Moon-Belly Sneetches who lived together on the beach, until one day they decided they were too different to live together. So they went their separate ways. But then Stella, a Star-Belly Sneetch, met Pearl, a Moon-Belly Sneetch, and they realized Sneetches are Sneetches, and no one kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. Cast: Amari McCoy, Sophie Petersen, Christopher Fitzgerald. In Waves and War - NETFLIX About: Three Navy SEALs leave their tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with treatment-resistant, unrelenting psychological pain. They find themselves at the cutting edge of a different frontline: a lifesaving psychedelic therapy that brings healing to a community in urgent need. Cast: Marcus Capone, Matty Roberts, DJ Shipley. Nice to Not Meet You , Season 1 - PRIME VIDEO About: Lim Hyeon-jun (Lee Jung-jae) is stuck as a typecast actor and desperately wishes to transform his image. Hyeon-jun has fallen into some mannerisms due to playing the same righteous detective role for years. While he’s about to start filming his fifth season of his popular series, he dreams of acting in a romantic comedy or melodrama. Things start to change when he meets Wi Jeong-sin (Lim Ji-yeon), a political journalist who has won a prestigious award for her reporting. Despite her success and years of experience, she ends up getting demoted to the entertainment department while covering a corruption case. Being forced to cover entertainment news, Jeong-sin comes across Hyeon-jun. Jeong-sin becomes a fan after watching his series, but is disappointed when she sees how different the actor is from his role. Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lim Ji-yeon. November 4 All’s Fair , Season 1 - HULU About: A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice. Fierce, brilliant and emotionally complicated, they navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and within their own ranks. In a world where money talks and love is a battleground, these women don’t just play the game—they change it. Cast: Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka with Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close. Squid Game: The Challenge , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: Squid Game: The Challenge returns for a second season. This time, 456 brand-new contestants will enter the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize. Inspired by the iconic original series – with shocking new twists and never-before-seen games – season two raises the stakes higher than ever. As players face elimination at every turn, only one can emerge victorious. New players. New games. New rules. November 5 Tyler Perry's Finding Joy - PRIME VIDEO About: Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy follows Shannon Thornton as Joy, a New York fashion designer whose talents are overshadowed by her boss. Just like her career, Joy has been unlucky in love. Encouraged by her steadfast friends Ashley (Brittany S. Hall) and Littia (Inayah), Joy follows her crush Colton (Aaron O'Connell) to Colorado, hoping for holiday magic. Instead, a shocking revelation and a snowstorm leave her stranded. At her lowest, Joy meets Ridge (Tosin Morohunfola), a chance encounter that transforms her perspective on life and love. Cast: Shannon Thornton, Tosin Morohunfola, Brittany S. Hall, Inayah, Eric Stanton Betts, Aaron O’Connell, Natalie O’Connell, Jeffery Thomas Johnson, Whitney Goin. November 6 Death by Lightning , Season 1 - NETFLIX About:  Death by Lightning is a drama series that brings to life the epic and stranger-than-fiction true story of James Garfield, reluctant 20th president of the United States, and his greatest admirer Charles Guiteau — the man who would come to kill him. Cast:  Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin. All Her Fault , Season 1 - PEACOCK About: Marissa Irvine arrives to collect her young son Milo from his first playdate, but the woman who answers the door isn't a mother she recognizes. She doesn't have Milo and has never heard of him. As every parent's worst nightmare begins to unfold, new questions lead to deep secrets, revealing cracks in the Irvine's seemingly perfect world until everything is left shattered. Cast: Sarah Snook, Jake Lacy, Dakota Fanning, Michael Peña, Sophia Lillis, Abby Elliott, Daniel Monks, Jay Ellis. The Vince Staples Show , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: In the wake of a tragic death, Vince embarks on a wild journey in search of inner peace. However, his path is littered with reminders of his haunted past. Alex vs. Arod - HBO MAX About: From the pinnacle of athletic success to the depths of scandal, Alex Rodriguez saw his prolific baseball career marred by a high-profile suspension for performance-enhancing drug use. Told through a series of intimate interviews with Rodriguez, ALEX VS AROD explores the dualities of one of the most polarizing figures in sports. November 7 Frankenstein - NETFLIX About: A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment. Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz. Pluribus , Season 1 - APPLE TV About: Already picked up for a second season, Pluribus is a genre-bending original in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness. Cast: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Miriam Shor, Samba Schutte. Maxton Hall – The World Between Us , Season 2 - PRIME VIDEO About: Those who fly high can also fall low...After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten). But a stroke of fate in James' (Damian Hardung) family changes everything and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James - and she has never been so hurt by anyone either. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her and she wasn't part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can't forget James - especially since he's doing everything he can to win her back. Cast: Damian Hardung, Harriet Herbig-Matten, Ben Felipe, Fedja van Huêt, Runa Greiner, Justus Riesner, Andrea Guo. As You Stood By , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Two women — trapped in a reality so suffocating that only death seems to offer an escape — make the fateful choice to kill, only to be swept up in a series of unexpected events. Cast: Jeon So-nee, Lee Yoo-mi, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Moo-saeng. Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films - DISNEY+ November 10 Sesame Street , Season 56 - NETFLIX About: This season, your Sesame Street friends are here to help little ones identify, understand, and work through their big feelings. Together, they’ll show how kindness and compassion make every day brighter – whether it’s learning to take turns, cheering up a friend, or finding ways to solve problems with a smile. 90 hours of previous episodes will also be available on NETFLIX. BAT-FAM , Season 1 - PRIME VIDEO About: BAT-FAM follows Batman, Alfred, and young Damian Wayne - now having taken on the mantle of “Little Batman” - as they welcome a few new residents to Wayne Manor. Joining the family dinner table is Alicia Pennyworth, Alfred’s free-spirited grandniece; Claire, a recently reformed Super-Villain; Ra’s al Ghul, Damian’s adoring “Pap Pap” who also happens to be Batman’s longtime nemesis; and Man-Bat, who takes up residence in the Wayne Manor belfry. Oh! And let’s not forget Selina, the beloved family cat. This close-knit family of misfits navigate the fun and frustrations of ordinary life while protecting the streets of Gotham City. Cast: Luke Wilson, Yonas Kibreab, James Cromwell, Haley Tju, London Hughes, Michael Benyaer, Bobby Moynihan. November 12 Laura Dern, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kristen Wiig in Palm Royale. © Apple TV Selling The OC , Season 4 - NETFLIX About: The OC agents are back and ready to establish their office as the top brokerage within the Oppenheim Group. As the competition heats up for some high-stakes listings, some may get burned as devastating rumors divide the team. While the office gets busier, Jason enlists agents from San Diego, but will the OGs of the OC let the new agents sink or swim? Cast: Jason Oppenheim, Alex Hall, Polly Brindle, Tyler Stanaland. A Merry Little Ex-Mas - NETFLIX About: A recently divorced woman attempts to have one last Christmas with her family before selling the house and moving, but complications arise when her ex-husband brings his amazing new girlfriend into the holiday mix. Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fodé, Melissa Joan. Playdate - PRIME VIDEO About: When recently unemployed accountant Brian (Kevin James) agrees to a playdate with charismatic stay-at-home dad Jeff (Alan Ritchson) and their sons, he expects an easy afternoon of small talk and football tossing. Instead, he's thrust into a chaotic scramble to stay alive as they are pursued by a ruthless team of mercenaries. Brian stumbles through one ridiculous obstacle after another, his zero tactical skills a stark contrast to Jeff's oddly prepared demeanor. Cast: Alan Ritchson, Kevin James, Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Benjamin Pajak, Banks Pierce, Hiro Kanagawa, Stephen Root, Isla Fisher. Palm Royale , Season 2 - APPLE TV About: Palm Royale is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, Palm Royale asks the same question that still baffles us today: “How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?” Cast: Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb. Being Eddie - NETFLIX About: From stand-up prodigy and Saturday Night Live phenom to beloved Hollywood icon, Being Eddie chronicles the extraordinary life and legacy of the genre-defying star through exclusive interviews with Murphy himself and his comedy peers, offering an intimate portrait of this once-in-a-generation talent. November 13 The Beast in Me , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Since the tragic death of her young son, acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) has receded from public life, unable to write, a ghost of her former self. But she finds an unlikely subject for a new book when the house next door is bought by Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a famed and formidable real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. At once horrified and fascinated by this man, Aggie finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth – chasing his demons while fleeing her own – in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly. Cast: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Natalie Morales. Ângela Diniz: Murdered and Convicted , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: The series is inspired by the acclaimed podcast “Praia dos Ossos” and revisits the story of Ângela Diniz, a woman who, through her freedom and autonomy, defied the standards imposed on women and was brutally punished for it. Her final relationship ended in tragedy when she was murdered at point-blank range with four gunshots by her boyfriend Doca Street, under the claim of “legitimate defense of honor” — a case that fueled feminist movements across the country. Cast: Marjorie Estiano. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives , Season 3 - HULU About: The members face a crisis of friendship as loyalties shift; trust is tested, and the lines between fact and fiction blur. When the pursuit of the truth calls character into question, a war over morality begins and a clash between #Momtok and #Dadtok erupts. With their sisterhood and everything they’ve built hanging in the balance, can the women find a path forward to salvation? Or will their collective sins destroy #Momtok for good? November 14 The Crystal Cuckoo , Season 1 - NETFLIX About: Clara Merlo, a first-year resident doctor, suffers a fatal heart attack that forces her to undergo a heart transplant. While recovering, the she feels the need to meet her donor, which leads her to a small inland town to learn about the life of the young man who gave her his heart. Clara thus delves into a place full of secrets, a mystery that extends over twenty years, and a closed-off town where, on the very day of her arrival, a baby disappears in a public park. Cast: Itziar Ituño, Ivan Massagué, Álex García. Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis - NETFLIX About: A blockbuster global showdown between boxing’s biggest disruptor, international superstar, and the WBA’s #14 ranked cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) vs. undefeated three-division champion, reigning WBA world champion, and pound-for-pound great Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), the modern day Mike Tyson, who has knocked out twenty eight of his thirty one opponents to date. Come See Me in the Good Light - APPLE TV About: Come See Me in the Good Light is a poignant and unexpectedly funny love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley facing an incurable cancer diagnosis with joy, wit and an unshakable partnership. Through laughter and unwavering love, they transform pain into purpose, and mortality into a moving celebration of resilience. The Seduction , Season 1 - HBO MAX About: Marquise de Merteuil, betrayed by Valmont, embarks on a daring journey to become Paris’ leading courtesan. Freely adapted from the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, a thrilling exploration of the price of emotional & sexual freedom in a world where women had little. Cast: Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Vincent Lacoste, Lucas Bravo, Noée Abita, Julien de Saint-Jean, Fantine Harduin, Samuel Kircher, and Sandrine Blancke. In Your Dreams - NETFLIX About: In Your Dreams is a comedy adventure about Stevie and her brother Elliot who journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams. If the siblings can withstand a snarky stuffed giraffe, zombie breakfast foods, and the queen of nightmares, the Sandman will grant them their ultimate dream come true...the perfect family. Cast: Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti and Craig Robinson. Nouvelle Vague - NETFLIX About: This film reimagines the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless in an exuberant exploration of the youthful rebellion and creative chaos that shaped the French New Wave. Cast: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin. A Very Jonas Christmas Movie - DISNEY+ About: Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas face a series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London to New York in time to spend Christmas with their families. Cast: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Chloe Bennet, Billie Lourd, Laverne Cox, K.J. Apa, Andrew Barth Feldman, Andrea Martin, Kenny G, Justin Tranter, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Danielle Jonas, Randall Park, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. November 16 Landman , Season 2 - PARAMOUNT+ About: In Season Two, as oil rises from the earth, so do secrets – and Tommy Norris’s (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble – it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break. Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, Sam Elliott, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan and Colm Feore. November 19 L-R: Beau, Fjord, Jester, Molly, Caleb and Nott the Brave in The Mighty Nein. © Prime Video The Mighty Nein , Season 1 - PRIME VIDEO About: The Mighty Nein is an animated series that follows a group of fugitives and outcasts, bound by secrets and scars. But when a powerful arcane relic known as "The Beacon" falls into dangerous hands, they must learn to work together to save the realm and stop reality itself from unraveling. Cast: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham. Champagne Problems - NETFLIX About: An executive travels to France to secure the acquisition of a renowned champagne brand before Christmas, but her plans are upended when she falls into a whirlwind romance with a charming Parisian – only to discover he's the founder’s son. Cast: Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka, Sean Amsing, Flula Borg, Astrid Whettnall, Xavier Samuel, Mitchell Mullen, and Maeve Courtier-Lilley. November 20 A Man on the Inside , Season 2 - NETFLIX About: Eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor. Who's making these threats? Does it have something to do with the iconoclastic billionaire Brad Vinick (Gary Cole), a Wheeler graduate, and his proposed donation to the school? Charles finds no shortage of possible suspects, but his attention gets diverted by free-spirited music teacher Mona (Mary Steenburgen), whose zest for life awakens feelings he thought he’d buried after the passing of his wife. Is he ready to open his heart again at this stage in his life? And more importantly, has he fallen for the very criminal he's been sent to unmask? Meanwhile, his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is inspired by the changes in her father and uncovers a long-ignored passion, while PI Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) embarks on her own journey of growth as she reconnects with an important figure from her past. Cast: Ted Danson, Max Greenfield, Gary Cole, Mary Steenburgen, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada. November 21 One Shot with Ed Sheeran - NETFLIX About: From impromptu performances on bustling sidewalks and subway cars, to intimate interactions with fans and passersby, Ed Sheeran’s journey through New York will be captured in a series of unforgettable moments, highlighting the pandemonium and excitement that follows. Train Dreams - NETFLIX About: Based on the beloved novella by Denis Johnson, Train Dreams is the moving portrait of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th century America. Orphaned at a young age, Robert grows into adulthood among the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, where he helps expand the nation’s railroad empire alongside men as unforgettable as the landscapes they inhabit. After a tender courtship, he marries Gladys (Felicity Jones) and they build a home together, though his work often takes him far from her and their young daughter. When his life takes an unexpected turn, Robert finds beauty, brutality and newfound meaning for the forests and trees he has felled. Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H. Macy, Kerry Condon. The Family Plan 2 - APPLE TV About: In The Family Plan 2 , it’s the holiday season and Dan (Mark Wahlberg) has planned the perfect vacation for his wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) and their kids to celebrate overseas — until a mysterious figure from his past (Kit Harington) shows up with unfinished business. An international game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Dan and his family battle, bicker and bond their way through a series of bank heists, holiday hijinks and car chases amid scenic European terrain. November 26 Jingle Bell Heist - NETFLIX About: Sophia (Olivia Holt), a sharp-witted retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a down-onhis-luck repairman, are small-time thieves with their eyes on the same Christmas Eve score: robbing London’s most notorious department store. Forced into an uneasy alliance, as secrets surface and feelings for each other deepen, Sophia and Nick put their relationship and the heist in jeopardy. Cast: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells. Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age - APPLE TV About: Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age is a sweeping new installment of the award-winning natural history series from executive producers Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit ( Planet Earth ), and narrated by Golden Globe and Olivier Award winner Tom Hiddleston ( Earthsounds ), with an original score by Hans Zimmer, Anže Rozman and Kara Talve from Bleeding Fingers Music. The five-part docuseries invites viewers into a dramatic new era of prehistoric life, millions of years after the extinction of the dinosaurs — an era shaped by ice, the intense fight to survive and the rise of a new cast of giants: the iconic megafauna. Cast: Tom Hiddleston. The Beatles Anthology , Season 1 - DISNEY+ About: The Beatles Anthology , the landmark documentary series exploring the life and Xmes of the most influential and beloved band of all time, as told by The Beatles themselves, will make its streaming debut exclusively on Disney+ beginning November 26. BeauXfully restored and expanded from eight to nine episodes, the series offers an unprecedented and inXmate view of The Beatles’ legendary trajectory and inner workings. WondLa , Season 3 - APPLE TV About: In the epic final season of WondLa , war erupts between humans and aliens. With Orbona’s fate hanging in the balance, Eva must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: recapturing the stolen Heart of the Forest. Along the way, she gathers old friends and unlikely allies for one last stand. But to save Orbona, Eva must do more than find the Heart; she must bridge two divided worlds and prove the ultimate truth: “There is no ‘them.’ There is only us.” November 27 (L to R) Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, and Gaten Matarazzo in Stranger Things. © Netflix Stranger Things , Season 5 - NETFLIX About: The highly anticipated fifth and final season will release on Netflix across three premiere dates with Volume 1 on November 26 (four episodes), Volume 2 on Christmas (three episodes)and The Finale on New Year’s Eve. Each volume releases at 5 PM PT. The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time. Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard , Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke. Disclaimer: Series descriptions are taken directly from official loglines and are not written by us.

Dispatch  © AdHoc Studios During the 2010s, we were in an era of great storytelling coming out of the studio Telltale Games, who released the critically acclaimed The Walking Dead , which introduced the masses to Lee and Clementine, with a few people favouring the game series over the comics and show. Telltale Games kept their games unique by releasing them episodically, similar to a television show, which proved to work for them until it eventually became their demise. Thankfully, the remnants of Telltale Games have been revived in the form of AdHoc Studios, a new game studio which features some ex-developers. There's still a major want for episodic games to return; Telltale Games allowed for interactivity that made you feel like you had a say in how the story truly played out. Telltale Games, after having gone bankrupt, have split themselves into AdHoc Studio and a newly formed Telltale Games, which previously released The Expanse: A Telltale Series , which was received well and gained itself a 75 Metacritic score for PC. AdHoc Studios arrive with their first video game, Dispatch , which comes in collaboration with Critical Role Productions, and after playing through the first two episodes, I can't wait to see how the future of this IP plays out. Back in 2017, we got a superhero workplace show called Powerless , which was set in the DC universe, but it failed to gain its own identity and didn't last longer than a season. Dispatch is everything that a superhero workplace comedy needs to be, and these first two episodes ease the players into the world and its gameplay, leaving us wanting more, but thankfully we only have to wait a week to play two more episodes. Dispatch has you take on the role of Robert Robertson (Aaron Paul), a superhero known as Mecha Man who loses his suit to his nemesis, Shroud. After the mech's destruction, which is his family's entire legacy, he gets hired as a dispatcher for the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), where he works with a team of supervillains in hope of rehabilitating them into superheroes. Robert Robertson and Blonde Blazer in Dispatch © AdHoc Studios The first episode, "Pivot," introduces its player to the character and its world, quickly seeing that all Robert had was his father's legacy, which is quickly put to an end during the opening 20 minutes of the game, where you'll also see an extremely toxic flaccid penis (this isn't a joke, but it is a pun). Dispatch is this beautifully animated game which plays out like a television series while also integrating quick time events to help you feel like you're a part of the action. If that isn't for you, there's a mode where you can sit back, relax and experience Dispatch exactly like you would an animated series. It's not an easy life that Robert lives; he spends all his time as Mecha Man and doesn't have much time for himself. The way he carries himself and how his apartment looks says all we need to know about his character. We meet him at his rock bottom as he tarnishes his father's legacy but comes across Blonde Blazer (Erin Yvette), your conventional golden-age-era-inspired superhero who arrives with a proposition that will allow Robert to show people that you don't need a suit to become a hero. Dispatch is a game that gives you various dialogue choices to choose from that will dictate the direction your story goes; with most games that have this as a feature, it never really feels like it diverts your story and instead feels predetermined. Early on in Dispatch , the game proves that every little decision you make genuinely matters and how my playthrough will play out will be different and unique to each person that plays the game. Will you decide to show you have a crush on Blazer, or will you be professional about your relationship with her? It's early on, so we won't know if this will stick until the end of the game, but it already allows for replayability with a second playthrough that will hopefully turn out different from your first. Dispatch doesn't play out like your usual Telltale Games-inspired videogame where you're able to take control of the player. As mentioned previously, you're watching a show that allows you to interact with quick-time events, and for some people, that may get boring real fast, but Dispatch keeps things interesting by giving you the job of dispatching super(villain)heroes. During the second episode, "Onboard," Robert begins his first day at the SDN, and we get to meet our colourful cast of characters that you'll be in charge of dispatching. Dispatch © AdHoc Studios Our team consists of Sonar (Charles White), the batboy conman; Flambae (Lance Cantstopolis), an ignorant fire freak; Coupé (Mayanna Berrin), a mercenary in the sky; Punch Up (Sean McLoughlin), a man half your size but with the strength of ten; Invisigal (Laura Bailey), an asthmatic that must hold her breath to go invisible; Malevola (Alanah Pearce), a portal-teleporting demon; Prism (Harvey AKA Thot Squad), Phoenix Program's own pop star; and finally, Golem (Matthew "Yung Gravy" Hauri), who's just made up of clay and dirt. It might be thanks to Critical Role's involvement that we got a lot of talented people on board to voice the characters, but without them, Dispatch would just be a beautiful game to look at. Erin Yvette has the charm of Blazer, Paul nails Robert's nonchalant behaviour, and Laura Bailey plays the ignorant Invisigal effortlessly. It's a strong cast without any weak links that help make Dispatch be this entertaining game that does extremely well at feeling like an animated show. So far, there's one dispatch section per episode, which lasts a good 10-15 minutes, and you learn quickly that you can't just dispatch any of these characters to any crime you want. They all have strengths and weaknesses which you must remember to ensure that you're sending them to the correct crime, in hopes of a successful mission. Sending the wrong person can lead to failure and affect your experience at the end of a session. The dispatching remains engaging, as you're kept on your toes the entire time, ensuring that you're ready to assist your team while they're already engaged in a crime, which can vary from choosing the right option for them to getting involved yourself as their hacker, bypassing security and gaining access to cameras. The hacking minigame is the second game that you'll come across; it's quite easy as of now, and the most challenge it offers is by making them timed or splitting up passwords that you must find and remember. It's a mechanic that doesn't offer much, but when mixed in with the dispatching and making decisions that could make dealing with a crime successful or not, it allows for there to feel like you have entire control over everything in the game. It doesn't sound like much, but it's not only thrilling but also fast-paced, and you'll want more once your shift comes to an end. The first two episodes of Dispatch highlight that AdHoc Studio have come with their very best. It's a game that boasts stunning animation with great interactivity and engaging gameplay that's all brought together by a voice cast that delivers hilarious humour while also balancing the story's drama. Although the episodes may be short as of now, it allows for you to yearn for more instead of feeling bored during the playthrough. With six episodes left to release of Dispatch , there's a lot of time for it to improve or get worse, but as of these first two episodes, Dispatch is one of the most fun experiences I've had gaming this year and feels like a complete throwback to Telltale Games' prime. Rating: ★★★★☆ Dispatch . © AdHoc Studios About Dispatch Release Date:  October 22, 2025 Played On:  PlayStation 5 Director: Nick Herman, Dennis Lenart, Chris Rebbert Writer: Pierce Shorette Developer:  AdHoc Studio Publisher:  AdHoc Studio Platforms:  PlayStation 5 and PC Synopsis: Dispatch has the player take the role of Robert Robertson, formerly the superhero Mecha Man, who has to take a job as a dispatcher for misfits-turned-superheroes after his signature mecha suit is destroyed in battle. A review code was provided by the publisher.

Jacob Elordi as The Creature in Frankenstein © Netflix Frankenstein  is, by his own admission, Guillermo del Toro’s lifetime project. The phrase is a death trap of sorts. How could one ever live up to their own expectations, nevermind those of the audience of Mary Shelley’s beloved 1818 novel? It helps, then, that del Toro’s version was my first in-depth jaunt into the world of Frankenstein, meaning the below consideration of del Toro’s iteration was taken at face value, and, for better or worse, with little influence of previous versions. Regardless, here is del Toro’s dream realised, and while it carries some of the Mexican director’s signature stamps of excellence, its most impressive parts, namely its sorrowful reimagining of the creature, are unfortunately stunted by its own attempts at perfection.  Like Shelley’s novel, del Toro begins his tale with a flash forward to the end. The creature, played in this iteration by a transformed Jacob Elordi, stalks around a ship frozen in sheets of Arctic ice, bellowing a single demand: “Bring him to me.” The man he desires is the eponymous Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Isaac, who is gravely injured and seeking refuge in the ships cabin. There is a debt to be vanquished here, one that tortures the creature and plagues Victor. Before long, we’re reeled back in time, and del Toro’s interpretation of the pairs genesis begins. We go first to Victor’s childhood, where he suffers at the hands of a regularly absent yet equally abusive father. His mother, one of two roles played by Mia Goth, dies after the birth of Victor's brother, William, and from this loss Victor’s obsession with cheating death, and his descent into infamous mad scientist, begins. He tries and fails to convince a medical board of his death-reserving abilities, before he catches the eye of Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), a wealthy arms dealer and uncle to Elizabeth, again played by Mia Goth, the fiancee of his brother William. With Harlander’s support (or, endless money), Victor’s life-giving dream is realised, and his Monster is born. Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein © Netflix Unfortunately, much of the film's weakness lies in this early stretch. While it’s easy to be immediately taken by the film's aesthetic, with Kate Hawley’s ravishing, gothic costumes (particularly those worn by Goth) coming to life against the intricate, lived-in set pieces from Tamara Deverell,  Victor’s origin story is exposition heavy and feels too drawn out. Isaac does relatively well at the centre: his doctor is wild and frantic as he dissects swarms of cadavers in the underbellies of Victorian England, his morbid indifference to the act characterised by careless steps through rivers of human blood. But his performance is occasionally uneven, teetering between calculated genius and operatic madness without fully grounding either. Frankenstein  flourishes, however, when its focus shifts to Victor’s creation. Sewn together from an army of dead soldiers, his towering monster is born in a spectacular creation scene: a storm rages outside as a frenzied Victor readies himself to play God. With a bolt of lightning, he achieves the impossible. Death is cheated, and life is thrust into the reassembled body of a mere mortal. Victor meets his creation like a father would his new-born son, with marvelling reverence. But he grows frustrated with the creature's slow development, and before long, chains him to a slab in his basement. Hidden away from the world, and capable of speaking only the name of his creator, the creature despairs at his abandonment. It’s in these early scenes that Elordi exhibits some of his most masterful character work, imbuing the creature with a childlike innocence under his towering, marionette-like physicality.  It’s easy to see how this treatment might make a monster, yet the consistent tenderness brought to the role by Elordi can’t help but evoke absolute sympathy for the creature. This compassion is felt by Mia Goth’s aloof Elizabeth too, who, through a performance that is passable but lacking her usual brilliance, anguishes at the creature's abuse in a way that mirrors our own. It’s even suggested that she falls in love with the creature. After all, she sees him for what he is: a man who had no choice in his creation, yet does his best to enact kindness in a world that doesn’t, and will never, accept him.  It’s this romanticism that del Toro chooses to emphasise over much of the story’s horror that creates an unfortunate polished and commercial quality. This isn’t an all–out criticism of the films craftsmanship by any means, as Frankenstein bears all of del Toro’s signature meticulous, hand-crafted detail, reminiscent of Pan's Labyrinth  (2006) and The Shape of Water  (2017). Returning cinematographer Dan Laustsen conjures up some beautiful images, one in particular setting the creature's silhouette against a blooming Arctic sunrise, and the score from Alexandre Desplat is just as stirring as you could imagine. This is a world that feels lived in and capable of conjuring the cruelty that Shelley’s novel requires, but a commitment to the more macabre elements of the canon might have pushed Frankenstein  from good to great. That being said, there is certainly much to love about del Toro’s Frankenstein.  While the creature might be the crowning achievement of Victor’s life for only a short period, Jacob Elordi’s take on Frankenstein’s monster is undoubtedly the consistent heart and soul of this film, and the definitive triumph of Elordi’s career. Through him, del Toro constructs a tragic yet gentle meditation on otherness that warns against the dangers of unchecked ambition. It welcomes reflection on what it means to be human, and considers that in life, there are rarely monsters, only the cruelty of man. Summed up best by the creature himself in a warning to Victor: “if you will not afford me love, then I will rage.” Rating: ★★★½ About Frankenstein Frankenstein © Netflix Premiere Date: October 17, 2025 and November 7, 2025 on Netflix Director: Guillermo del Toro Producers: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber Writer: Guillermo del Toro Production: Netflix, Double Dare You, Demilo Films, Bluegrass 7 Distribution: Netflix Cast: Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Lars Mikkelsen, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer Synopsis: A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.

Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures Scott Derickson is back in his element with Black Phone 2, a sequel to the 2021 pleasant surprise hit The Black Phone, which he also wrote and directed after basing it on an idea by Joe Hill, the son of horror icon Stephen King. Where the first film centered around the 'relationship' between Finney and The Grabber, the sequel focuses the spotlight on Gwen, Finney's sister, and The Grabber, a decision already genius for a fresh expansion of the story, elevated further by Madeline Mcgraw's fantastic lead performance. Speaking of the story, Black Phone 2 follows Finney and Gwen dealing with the aftermath of the ordeal years prior. But when Gwen begins experiencing nightmare realm dreams and visions, she begs Finney to help her find the truth about The Grabber and uncover how their stories intertwine more than they initially realized. Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures Gwen's visions and dreams are captured through authentic Super-8 film which elevates the film and aids the difference between the surreal and real in an instantly recognizable and unique fashion. And it's here where Ethan Hawke truly shines in his return as The Grabber - cementing him as one of the coolest and meanest modern horror icons. He's violent, cunning, and twisted sporting a crooked redesign under his mask. As for Finney, Mason Thames does a commendable job at tackling the fractured life his character has had since the events of the first movie. He's much more volatile in the wake of what he went through as well as struggling to find himself being able to move on from the ordeal. Mason handles the material well and even though it feels the film could've leaned heavier into its exploration of Finney's blatant PTSD, its sprinkling moments across the film, including a pivotal scene of him letting it all loose, ultimately leads to a satisfying moment of euphoria for the character. Another very highly praise-worthy part of the movie is its direction in tackling questions about the story. It manages to tread a very fine line of providing answers we never thought we'd need but are happy to get and avoiding ones that most horror sequels would leap to answer first, those being the wrong ones that typically explain, often in poor fashion, how certain things work. In this context, Black Phone 2 elaborates on the history of The Grabber and delves into the explanation of how he's suddenly returned, but it never explains the central supernatural mystery of this world, which is HOW the Black Phone itself works. And that's a good thing. Mason Thames as Finney and Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures There are a number of things lacking or not quite as intact as one would hope in this sequel that prevents it from excelling or even matching the original movie. One of these is a sense that something is missing to bring the second act recognizably into the third, which leads to the climax feeling slightly muddled as to whether all is really said and done in the moment. Weakening the final hits, so to say, of the culmination in the movie's story as well as the characters' journeys across it. Additionally, for a horror movie sequel coming in at just shy of two hours with the first being a slow sizzle to get things going, there are times when you wish there was a little more drive in getting to what scares and thrills the movie does imaginatively offer, and wouldn't be harmed from actually having some more in there for viewers to chew on throughout it. More scares don't always mean less effect! Though Black Phone 2 doesn't surpass the quality level of its predecessor, it still serves as a slick and mean, satisfying expansion to its story and characters with some legitimately chilling and imaginative sequences, as well as strong humour sprinkled over its character work and bonds. Where Mason Thames shined as the leading star in the first go around with The Grabber, Madeline McGraw does so in this second and conclusive-feeling encounter with him. Rating: ★★★ 1/2 Black Phone 2 © Universal Pictures About The Black Phone 2 Release Date:  October 17, 2025 Executive Producers: Joe Hill, Adam Hendricks, Ryan Turek Director: Scott Derrickson Writers: C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson, Joe Hill Production: Blumhouse Productions, Crooked Highway Distribution:  Universal Pictures Cast: Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Madeleine McGraw Synopsis: As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, his sister begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake.

© Vertical The Astronaut marks Jess Varley’s debut as both writer and director. The haunting psychological sci-fi drama is centered on astronaut Sam Walker (Kate Mara), who crash-lands back on Earth after a mysterious mission in space. As she undergoes quarantine and evaluation, Sam begins to experience strange, disorienting events and starts to suspect that something - or someone - is stalking her. The film also stars Gabriel Luna and Laurence Fishburne, who also serves as an executive producer. I spoke with Jess Varley about her journey from actor to filmmaker, how The Astronaut came to life, and the creative choices behind its striking sound design, emotional ending, and surprising sense of humanity within the unknown. You began your career in front of the camera and now you’re behind it, directing The Astronaut . Was stepping into the director’s chair always part of the plan, or did that passion develop along the way? Jess Varley: It’s funny because growing up, I don’t think I even considered it as an option. There were so many male directors that I just didn’t really think about it. Once I gave it a shot and did my first short film, which was a genre short, my brain exploded. I was obsessed. I have to do this forever! I thought it was the coolest thing, and I was so grateful that the time I spent in front of the camera and all the years working on movie crews really helped prepare me for making the film. I love writing but really, directing is what I love most. I write to be able to direct. There’s a fluidity to that, which is really nice because I can keep updating the script as we go. As soon as I tried directing, nothing else mattered. I knew I had to pursue it no matter what. It was something I instantly fell in love with. The Astronaut is a big project. How did it come together from the initial idea to assembling this incredible cast? Jess Varley: I ended up talking with Brad Fuller, our lead producer, over dinner one night, and he instantly took to the idea. We spent the whole dinner brainstorming and coming up with ideas. His whole family was there, saying things like, “What if this happens?” or “What if that happens?” It was so nice because it really brought the idea to life. It had been a seed for a long time, but he kicked it off and ignited the fire of what it became. He helped shepherd the project the entire time, and I’m so grateful for that because he’s produced incredible movies like A Quiet Place and The Purge franchises. He’s amazing. The fact that we were able to work with such incredible talent on the film is a testament to Brad’s involvement and to the actors who were willing to take a chance on a younger filmmaker like me. All those years working both in front of and behind the camera really helped prepare me to work with talent of that caliber. I learned so much from everyone, and they were all so wonderful. Kate Mara in The Astronaut . © Vertical I’m so happy you got to make this. The visuals are amazing, but the sound design is especially incredible. It really heightens the tension and draws you in. How involved were you in shaping that aspect? Jess Varley: Oh, I love that question. I was very involved, and Mike Holcomb, our amazing sound designer, did such an incredible job. He brought so much texture to the film. There’s a lot of sophistication in the sound design. There’s a trope in horror where they pull out the sound right before a scare, which is what you’d normally do. But when that happens, I always know the scare is coming. So I thought, “What’s genuinely going to be scary here? What’s grounded? What’s the most realistic version of this sound we can come up with?” We played with the levels for the scares, and he did such an exquisite job with amazing attention to detail. I’m very particular too, so he was such a sweetheart to go through that level of detail with me to get it exactly right. We also have to talk about that ending. I was watching it last night and could feel the film winding down in that final scene, but I still didn’t want it to end. Was it always planned to end there? Jess Varley: It was. I’d say there were probably about ten minutes we decided to cut to keep it lean and moving, but the heart and soul always remained the same. I really loved the idea that the genre isn’t what you think it is — that the unknown doesn’t have to be scary. There’s beauty in messy transformation. Hopefully it feels relatable despite the science-fiction elements. To me, the story is about transformation, becoming your most authentic self, and how isolating that can feel, sometimes at the expense of relationships. It was fun to explore that very human experience through the lens of [the sci-fi] genre. Yes, it was lovely. The final scene is so emotional. Gabriel Luna and Scarlett Holmes in  The Astronaut . © Vertical We also have these aliens: were they done with motion capture or CGI? They were so cute! I wasn’t expecting that either. I was waiting to be scared by something horrifying, and then they look at you with those beautiful eyes. Jess Varley: We ended up doing them with CGI. It was really a blank frame. Kate was acting opposite a tennis ball or nothing at all. Our team did a great job. We were a small independent film, so we pushed the limits of what was possible with our budget. It was important to me that once you discover the twist and see what the aliens really are, if you rewatch the film, you’d see everything through a different lens, realizing they’re trying to warn her, reach her, bring her home. I thought it was important to show them fully because in most genre films you only see them briefly or in silhouette. It’s always a risk to show them completely, but there was something sweet and vulnerable about it. We tried to have them communicate nonverbally and through warmth and expression. Even though they’re aliens, hopefully people can feel that connection and understand their intentions are good. Yes, it’s just lovely. It was such a beautiful experience. One last question: Now that you’ve brought The Astronaut to life, what stories do you hope to tell next? Jess Varley: Oh, I love that. My next movie, which I’m hoping to shoot soon, is a Christmas genre movie. Although that one might be a little more hard-R, a bit cheekier and funnier. I love the idea of using genre to have fun with scares and crazy worlds but still keeping a lot of heart in it. I’ve always loved that balance. I’m hoping to use the Christmas genre to turn expectations on their head. We all have an idea of what a holiday movie is, but I think it’s a fun opportunity to make something people will want to rewatch every year. It’ll still have that sentiment of family and the struggle to be a good parent, but with a backdrop that’s a little more insane than The Astronaut . Hopefully, it’ll bring some laughter too. Can’t wait to see what you do next. I’ll be following! The Astronaut is now available on digital platforms.

© Vertical Jess Varley makes her directorial debut with The Astronaut , a haunting psychological sci-fi drama that follows astronaut Sam Walker (Kate Mara) after she crash-lands back on Earth following a mysterious space mission. While in quarantine for recovery and evaluation, Sam begins to experience unsettling phenomena that blur the line between reality and hallucination. Gabriel Luna stars as Sam’s estranged yet deeply supportive husband, whose empathy and unwavering belief in her become the emotional core of the story. I spoke with Luna about joining the project, exploring love and trust in the face of fear, and what fans can expect as he returns to The Last of Us for season three. So, how did you get involved in this project? Gabriel Luna:  This film came together when my team told me that Jess [Varley] wanted to talk to me. We had lunch and talked about the film. I expressed everything I loved about it - that it’s a new kind of take on what it means to be afraid, and how sometimes that fear is misguided. I also loved the family elements and the adoption themes that run throughout - loving something different, something that isn’t of you or your family. That meeting with Jess really sealed the deal. And we got to go to Ireland, which sounded really nice. Your character is a husband who’s been left behind because of his wife’s obsession with space. When he finally learns the truth about her, he isn’t terrified — he’s rather supportive and loving. How did you approach playing that empathy in the middle of such a terrifying situation? Gabriel Luna:  I loved that part of his character, who he is. Early in the film, you see that they’re drifting apart. Her ambition, her skill, and how hardworking she is - everything she’s worked for - has positioned her to reach the pinnacle of her profession, what they’re all hoping and striving for. When they finally come together and everything goes sideways, you start to see that there’s something else, something otherworldly, that they have to contend with. He isn’t fearful. I don’t think he fully understands or is able to completely accept it in the moment, but he doesn’t shut her out. He believes in her. Through that love for Sam, you see it come back: the love, the trust, the reason they love each other and have this child together. It’s really great to see that, because oftentimes in these films, the characters are just cast aside as crazy. But to see that kind of trust and love lend itself toward belief, that was comforting. I think that’s what carries you through to the end of the film. In that last act, there’s a lot of their history. There’s always been something about Sam that was just extraordinary. I think that’s why it’s easier for him to accept some of the events in that last act. Jess brings both sensitivity and suspense to her storytelling. What was it like being directed by Jess on this project? Gabriel Luna:  Jess was great. No one knew that story better than she did, and that gave us all confidence. We could come together every day and trust her completely. They got to have a lot of fun - going out on the Irish Sea in zodiacs and such - but for the most part, all my scenes were shot in that house and the surrounding area. We also filmed at this really cool science center for kids that we turned into a NASA facility. The underground, subterranean parts of the house were shot there too. It was great. Jess was very understanding, she knew the story so well, and she was a great leader. Speaking of horror and kids, fans are excited about The Last of Us  season 3. I think it’s filming in April. How does it feel heading back to that world? Gabriel Luna:  I’m trying to grow my hair and mustache back as fast as I can! I’m excited. Fans of the game will know there are some really great new characters we’re going to meet. We’ll discover much more about the ones we already know — some we may have preconceived notions about or harbor certain ill will toward. But through the way we tell this story, I think fans will come to have some very conflicting feelings about how they view these people. I’m speaking in generalities, but I think it’s going to be special. We’re all really excited to get back to work. The Astronaut is now available on digital platforms.

Sources tell Nexus Point News that Ti West’s next project is set to be A Christmas Carol film for Paramount Pictures with Johnny Depp set to star as Ebenezer Scrooge. The project comes from a script written by Nathaniel Halpern, best known for his work on Legion  and creating and writing Tales from the Loop . West previously directed an episode of Tales from the Loop . The film has secretly been in development at Paramount for quite some time with casting for the rest of the cast already being underway. West is best known for writing and directing A24’s X  trilogy: X , Pearl , and MaXXXine , all starring Mia Goth. His other credits include The Roost , Trigger Man , The Innkeepers, The House of the Devil , and Valley of Violence . West is repped by CAA. For Johnny Depp, this will mark his first studio film in years. Depp is best known for his roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Edward Scissorhands , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Donnie Brasco , and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape . He made his acting debut in The Nightmare on Elm Street  in 1984. Depp is repped by Range Media Partners A Christmas Carol  was published in 1843 and written by Charles Dickens. The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is visited by the ghost of his business partner and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come who deliver warnings and ultimately change him into a better person. The story has been adapted countless times into various forms of media with the first film adaptation being a British silent short film from 1901 titled Scrooge, or, Marley’s Ghost . The most recent film adaptation is 2022’s Spirited  starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. It follows Scrooge (Ferrell) who is now the Ghost of Christmas Present, haunting a man in modern day, portrayed by Reynolds. West’s A Christmas Carol adaptation is set to begin production at the beginning of 2026.

X-Men: Book of Revelation © Marvel Comics If you’ve been following X-Men comics for the last few weeks, you may have noticed the landscape has changed. New titles, new creative teams, and a frightening apocalyptic future are the new normal for our heroes.  Welcome to the World of Revelation. X years ago, Apocalypse set something in motion that not even he could predict. En Sabah Nur chose an heir - the heir to Apocalypse, and among all those present, Doug Ramsey of the New Mutants was victorious in claiming the title. Now, known as Revelation, he is carrying out his judgment on the world to see who amongst them really is the fittest to survive or endure. The premise of this story is very similar to other alternate timeline and alternate future X-Men storylines, only the players are different. Book of Revelation  centers on those mutants closest to Revelation, a group known as Choristers, who have the power to amplify the Mutant abilities of others. The story focuses on a new character, a young Mutant named Elbecca Voss, as she is brought to Revelation's headquarters as a replacement for a Chorister who fell at the hands of the X-Men. The story follows Elbecca as she learns her role alongside Revelation and the danger that position entails. Not just from those who would resist him or do him harm, but even from those among her ranks. It’s no surprise that someone like Fabian Cortez (another Mutant with the ability to empower others) would be amongst Revelation’s ranks, but also an enemy to young Elbecca or any other mutant who could usurp his place close to power. Revelation announces a new Chorister in X-Men: Book of Revelation © Marvel Comics Fabian’s disdain for Elbecca is clear. He threatens her and warns of a ghostly voice that calls to her at night, but she has bigger problems. Though Revelation may be Apocalypse’s chosen heir, the ancient mutant is clearly unhappy with how things have turned out. He responds with a threat of war, if not death, by sending his son, Death, from Arakko to deliver the warning. This was a standout moment in the issue, especially since we have seen so little of Arakko since the fall of Krakoa and the creative shift at the X-Office. In the end, Elbecca learns it is not the outside world she must fear, but the new home she’s found herself in. With none of the other Choristers seemingly willing to guide her and Cortez unsurprisingly willing to backstab her to maintain his place of power, the only hope she has seems to come in the form of the mysterious ghost she was formerly terrified of, who may in fact be a hero from the past. X-Men: Book of Revelation makes itself an interesting read as it not only gives us the perspective of this world from someone who’s only ever known the Age of Revelation but also puts us close to the titular villain of the story. Diaz does an amazing job of conveying the emotions of each character in the story, particularly through their eyes or gaze, and MacKay sets up amazing tension with the conflict between Choristers, Arakko, and the X-Men. While I can’t say I’m a fan of another alternate timeline story for the X-Men, I am at least a bit intrigued to learn the fate of Elbecca and the mysteries she’s sure to unravel about the Age of Revelation along the way. X-Men: Book of Revelation © Marvel Comics About X-Men: Book of Revelation #1 Release Date:  October 22, 2025 Written by:  Jed MacKay Art by: Netho Diaz Cover by: Netho Diaz Page Count: 27 Synopsis :  THE GAME OF POWER COMMENCES! X YEARS LATER, after the assassination of one of his prized Choristers, Revelation welcomes a new mutant to his capital city of Philadelphia. But the capital of the Revelation Territories hides many dangers, not the least of which are her rival Choristers - and Fabian Cortez will allow no one to challenge him for Revelation's favor. But this new mutant has a secret ally - the Ghost of Philadelphia!

IT: Welcome to Derry  © HBO HBO’s  IT: Welcome to Derry  is a chilling, masterfully crafted descent into fear and one of the best series of the year. Nexus Point News was given access to the first five episodes, and let’s be clear: this show is  insanely good. A Brutal, Atmospheric Triumph The first episode wastes no time establishing its reign of terror. The opening fifteen minutes alone deliver the kind of nightmare fuel that will have fans clenching their fists, while the final fifteen guarantee you won’t be sleeping easy. It’s gruesome, it’s gory, and it’s relentlessly unnerving. But beneath all the blood and dread, there’s an unexpected heart — the kind that makes you care deeply about who survives this ordeal. Unlike many horror series that lean on cheap jump scares,  Welcome to Derry  thrives on sustained tension. The dread lingers, deliberately stretching moments until they break. The result? You’re just startled, and you feel haunted. IT: Welcome to Derry  © HBO A New Generation of “Losers” At the emotional core of the show is the young cast,  the new (technically old) ‘62 Losers Club. Their chemistry is electric, evoking the warmth and authenticity that made the original  IT  films so beloved. They bring humor, fear, and vulnerability in equal measure, grounding the chaos with genuine emotion. The 1962 “Losers Club” dynamic feels instantly familiar yet refreshingly new. Clara Stack  shines as Lilly, delivering a deeply affecting performance that balances vulnerability with resilience. Her longing for connection amidst the town’s darkness gives the story its emotional anchor.  Amanda Christine  is equally captivating — the emotional core of the series, grounding the chaos with empathy and quiet strength. Together, their performances bring warmth to the horror, reminding viewers why  IT  has always been about more than monsters. Down with the Clown Despite the title, Pennywise the Dancing Clown is largely absent in the series and yet, his presence is everywhere. Jason Fuchs’ writing and Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s direction prove the show doesn’t  need  the clown to terrify. His shadow looms over every scene, every whisper of red balloon-induced panic. When Bill Skarsgård finally makes his return, it’s every bit the unholy spectacle fans could hope for. A horrifying, magnetic performance that reaffirms him as the definitive Pennywise. Tim Curry may have haunted the ‘90s, but Skarsgård owns this era. IT: Welcome to Derry  © HBO Expanding the King Universe The show smartly weaves in threads from Stephen King’s larger mythology. Chris Chalk’s appearance as Dick Hallorann (of  The Shining ) is a delightful connective tissue, hinting that the horrors of Derry may be only part of a much wider darkness. A subplot involving a Cold War-era military operation feels slightly less organic a curious diversion that, while eventually justified, sometimes pulls focus from the town’s more human horrors. Still, it teases a potential bridge to other corners of King’s multiverse, which longtime fans will appreciate. Technically Flawless Horror From a production standpoint,  Welcome to Derry  is an achievement. The 1960s setting is brought vividly to life with striking set design, impeccable lighting, and a lush pastel color palette that eerily contrasts the show’s brutality. Editor Esther Sokolow a longtime collaborator of Andy Mushietti, returns to Derry after her work on  IT: Chapter Two , stitches together sequences of pure nightmare with surgical precision, helping the series find its unique rhythm of horror and heartbreak within the first two episodes. The result is a technically flawless production that marries horror and nostalgia with artistry and care. Verdict IT: Welcome to Derry  delivers jaw-dropping, shocking moments even before the title card hits. It’s horrifying, heartfelt, and gorgeously crafted, a reminder that great horror isn’t just about monsters, but about the people forced to face them. Andy Muschietti has once again proven why Warner Bros. continues to trust him as one of its most distinctive storytellers. His ability to blend spectacle with intimacy is unmatched. Welcome to Derry feels unmistakably his. Visually grand, emotionally precise, and tonally balanced between humor and anguish. Terrifying. Emotional. Unmissable. Derry… you’ve been missed. Rating: ★★★★★ IT: Welcome to  Derry © HBO About IT: Welcome to Derry Premiere Date:   October 26, 2026 Creators: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs Producers: Anna Beben, Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Sara Rath, Cherie Dimaline Cast: Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Bill Skarsgård, Taylor Paige, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, Matolda Lawler, Arian S. Cartaya, Blake Cameron James, Miles Ekhardt, Mikkal Karim-Fidler, Jack Molloy Legault, and Matilda Legault Production:   Double Dream and FiveTen Productions Distribution:  HBO Synopsis: Set in the world of Stephen King’s “IT” universe, IT: WELCOME TO DERRY is based on King’s “IT” novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films “IT” and “IT Chapter Two.”

It's three months post San Diego Comic Con 2025, and I am still basking in the aura of it. I know, it's OCTOBER, but I'm a sucker for immersive experiences and it's hard to get my fill for that once I am back home and back to reality. But when Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group presented me an opportunity to check out Festival Fright Nights , an immersive haunted attraction and Halloween experience developed in partnership with Winchester Mystery House , I did not hesitate, even though maybe in the spirit of an invite to a possibly Haunted House, I should have. I've lived my entire life here in San Jose, and the Winchester Mystery House has been here in my town since 1886. It opened as a tourist attraction 9 months after Sarah Winchester's death in 1922. For those not familiar, Sarah Winchester had inherited a vast fortune from her husband, the heir to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. After Sarah had lost her husband and infant daughter, local legend says that she had consulted a spiritual medium. The spiritual medium had told her that she was being haunted by the spirits of all those killed by Winchester rifles. In order to appease the spirits, she was advised to build the house continuously and never stop construction — or else the spirits would claim her. © Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group For 36 years construction continued day and night, resulting in a labyrinthine mansion with bizarre features and countless rooms to house all the restless spirits. The house also gained notoriety when it was featured in a film of its own in 2018's Winchester , starring Helen Mirren as Sarah Winchester, and even before that had been the site of numerous ghost hunts and investigations. The premise of the attraction is that it’s Halloween night, 1924. Two years after the death of the enigmatic Sarah Winchester, her sprawling estate, Llanada Villa, has stood silent with its mysteries locked away behind winding corridors and sealed doors. Now, under a mysterious new ownership, the mansion has reopened for a grand Halloween Masquerade Ball. Hosted by Lord Gideon Gray, the ball served up an unforgettable night of glamour, music, and startling revelations. © Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group We checked in about 8:30pm and were guided over to the front of the mansion to a Masquerade ball where we received our masks and a welcome cocktail before we entered the house doors. Instantly, I was in awe. I could not tell where the actual Winchester Mystery House started and ended, and the immersive experience of Festival Fright Nights began (in the best way). We started off by entering The Masquerade of Shadows, a lavish ball hosted by Lord Gideon Gray that spirals into supernatural terror when an ancient portal unleashes vengeful spirits upon the house. This allowed me to venture throughout the house, its narrow and confusing corridors, giving me a unique look at the various rooms in the most hauntingly way possible (with a few hidden speakeasies in some of the rooms). Once I was able to make it out, I ventured into The Root of All Evil, where the mansion’s gardens are decked out to be deadly and terrifying. I was actually impressed by how Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group took it upon themselves to use every bit of the mansion that was accessible to those that dared to venture in. My journey ended with The Final Descent, a forbidden wing of the Winchester Mystery House where a seance rips open the veil between life and the afterlife, as Sarah Winchester's lingering shadow haunts the halls, and the basement becomes a battleground between the living and the dead. © Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group I was able to speak to Brett Bertolino, Director of Special Projects for Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, after the experience to get an idea what it took to organize and construct such an immersive pop up in such a strange place. NPN: What is the creative concept behind Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House? How did you keep the allure of the house but also keep it immersive? Brett Bertolino: When we began working on this project with Winchester Mystery House, we dove into the history of the house, the history of Sarah, and we really wanted to understand what was special here. The stories are special, the history is special, the house is special. We took that as our inspiration. Our goal was to create something that felt authentic to guests. We have this beautiful architectural house that's unique and has a huge history to it that's mysterious, and it's also reportedly haunted. So, we took all that inspiration to think of what kind of story we wanted to tell. We knew that the story here was more important than some of our other haunted houses because of the nature of the property. Our research found that Harry Houdini really came to the property in 1924 with the goal of disproving spirits exist. So, the whole premise is you're stepping back into 1924, and the new mysterious maestro of the property is having a Masquerade on Halloween night. As you go through these attractions, there's lots of little details, lots of little easter eggs about the real history here. We've tried to be as respectful as we can to the real history, but to give our own take on it. It's an immersive world; we want you to feel like you're back in 1920. NPN: I was really taken aback by how immersive everything was, I couldn't really what was part of the experience, and part of the house. Did you guys have any difficulties setting up the paths and navigating people through? Brett Bertolino: Winchester Mystery House is like a giant maze. I feel like the first several times we visited here, we got completely confused. It is just naturally confusing to walk through this space. When we started working on this project, we met with a lot of the staff at Winchester Mystery House. We talked to a lot of people. What stories resonate? What spaces in the house resonate? We wanted to make sure we had all the fan favorites on the tour, the basements, and we wanted to activate the entire property. That is what is different about this event, we really are activating every space that is safe for visitors to go. In addition to the main attractions, I was invited to try out some of their attraction addons, like The Underhouse tour. This addon gives those who dare a guided journey through the basement of the Villa, guided by cryptic whispers from an arcane philosopher. Donning a hard hat and a flashlight, I made my descent into the mansion’s pitch-black basement. Outside on the grounds of the mansion, guests were able to check out the food and beverage offerings in a garden party! Festival Fright Nights made sure to respect the mansion's history, while also paying homage to lore. Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is no stranger to hauntingly immersive popups. Most notably with other events at the most auspicious of places like Old Joliet Haunted Prison and infamous Queen Mary. © Winchester Mystery House I love scary stuff, and I was most likely desensitized at an early age by an uncle who loved horror movies. However, my wife, who I invited with me, does not do scary. Was Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House scary? I wouldn't say I was terrified at every corner. But in a sense that it was eerie and strange, like a party at the Overlook Hotel in The Shining , it definitely gave me chills. My wife survived the night and based on that notion alone I would say this experience is definitely suitable for the entire family in the most unique and respectful way possible. I asked Brett Bertolino if they were able to confirm if the house was haunted while setting up the attractions: That's a great question! Working at this property that is super creepy, I'm not personally a believer in ghosts but I will tell you this, when our team has been here at night and it's just been us there have been many times where we've been freaked out, where we hear things. I can't say for certain if there's ghosts or not, but I will tell you there's a lot of visitors that come here that believe there are paranormal experiences, I've talked with a lot of staff that believe there's paranormal energy here. I will just tell you that if you come here, you're just going to have to decide for yourself. If you're in San Jose, California, Festival Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House is now open and runs through November 1.